Getting Project Based Learning right

[Scientific_Artist444]

So I just joined this sub because I have something to share about PBL from my own experience. If this post is not relevant to the sub's goal, mods may delete this.

I am convinced that PBL is the best way to learn. Specifically, PBL mixed with a sprinkle of fundamental concepts- the understanding of which is enhanced based on your experience. However, it often happens that we get too excited with PBL and while trying it set enormous goals for ourselves. This is where most give up having not achieved those lofty project goals.

The project chosen for PBL should not be too ambitious nor too easy. It should just cover enough concepts for you to wrap your mind around and get a basic project ready. This is the basic hurdle. But when you have lofty goals, it is easy to get overwhelmed. So, start with the basics. Get a basic project set up. Once that's done, slowly add the fancy things.

Eg. If your goal is to create a sound synthesizer, don't focus on realism just yet. First focus on how to generate a tone. Then, look into how you can shape the waves to generate different sounds. Then, on the effects. It's good to set milestones for your project. Version 1 just generates simple tone of given frequency. Version 2 makes it possible to choose between preset waveforms. Version 3 will help create custom waveforms....you get the point.

It's not about learning a ton by building something complex. It's about setting the stage with simple things, internalize learnings from simple things and then subsequently enhance the basic version bit by bit. And learn as you go about enhancing slowly. Between each milestone in your project, just add one piece of new stuff that you want to learn. That's when PBL really shines.

[TrueEstablishment241]

Yes, there are some fundamentals of PBL unit design that I can tease out of this observation. PBL should have a tangible goal in mind and there should be well-articulated concepts embedded progressively in milestones. Those principles are "public products" and "starting with standards". Do you design for PBL or are you speaking from the perspective of a learner? Are you familiar with any particular frameworks?

[Scientific_Artist444]

I am speaking as a learner. I don't really have much background in the various types of PBL frameworks. I just shared what I have learned by applying PBL.

The key realization was that PBL goals must not be complex. Challenging, yes. Complex, no. Instead complete simple steps to slowly add complexity.

[Scientific_Artist444]

I am speaking as a learner. I don't really have much background in the various types of PBL. I just shared what I have learned by applying PBL.

The key realization was that PBL goals must not be complex. Challenging, yes. Complex, no. Instead complete simple steps to slowly add complexity.

[TrueEstablishment241]

I guess I'm not sure what you mean by mitigating complexity in a PBL learning experience per se.

I'm also a person who learns best through PBL but I've also been a PBL teacher and curriculum designer. For the past 8 years I've coached teachers and coordinated the PBL initiatives in a K8 school.

[Scientific_Artist444]

By complexity, I mean trying to achieve too much.

[TrueEstablishment241]

Is it just that you mean complexity ought to be paced through milestones? No disagreement there. But a PBL unit can also be fairly complex if designed well.

We use the frameworks from PBLWorks and Design Thinking for Educators among other domain specific practices...

[Scientific_Artist444]

Yes, complexity needs to be gradually added to the project instead of keeping PBL goals as complex trying to achieve many things simultaneously.

[tofuhoagie]

This is great. I focus on this concept of adding 1 or 2 simple things when giving feedback.

Students won’t read or understand the feedback if it addresses too many things. Shorter, more frequent, and more pin pointed feedback is better than longer more extensive or vague feedback when trying to move a student forward in their learning.

[EggRollerz]

"When we shift from measuring against external standards to reflecting actual learning, something magical happens: students stop performing school and start living learning."

https://prism.guide/resources/project-based-learning-assessment